Light or Darkness -- Your Choice.

Post 4 by Judy Rix...

Do you remember that old song, "This Little Light of Mine, I'm Gonna Let It Shine"? You can strengthen your positive Christlike qualities by letting your little light shine!

As we Emulate Jesus Christ in our lives, three things become very clear:

• Positive character traits are of Christ -- LIGHT.

• Negative character traits are of Satan -- DARK.

• Positive and negative are polar opposites!

We've All Been Given the Light of Christ.

David A. Bednar explains, "The Light of Christ is the influence of God that pulls us, that influences us to be good and to do good. Every person ever born in history, now, or in the future, is influenced by the Light of Christ for goodness. As you yield to that influence to do good and become good, then the Light of Christ increases within you. As you disobey, light is decreased and can ultimately be diminished. ("Patterns of Light, The Light of Christ")

You can yield to that influence to do good by emulating Christ's positive character traits, which ultimately make you and those around you happy.

Or, you can yield to that influence to do evil. When you emulate Satan's dark negative character traits, the light within you is decreased, which ultimately makes you and those around you miserable. As the great Book of Mormon prophet, Alma, taught his son, "Wickedness never was happiness." BOM, Alma 41:10.

Which Side Will You Choose?

Anything that is negative is sin because it is of Satan. From that perspective, worry, doubt, and hurtful words are as bad as stealing and lying because they are all dark, void of the light of Christ.

Darkness and light cannot exist in the same person at the same time, or fear and faith, or disobedience and obedience, or sorrow and happiness. They are polar opposites.

There is a reason why magnifying your positive Christlike qualities profoundly impacts your whole being. It literally brings Christ's light into your soul as the negative qualities are diminished!

God has granted you the gift of agency (the right to choose) to live a life of light or a life of darkness. Which will you choose?

Purity Radiates!

Radiance has a direct correlation with righteousness. Righteousness in its simplest form is light. Unrighteousness in its simplest form is darkness. A person who is filled with goodness literally radiates light. It shows in the countenance. Purity radiates. And if you continue to magnify that light, it grows even brighter.

"That which is of God is light. He that receives light and continues in God, receives more light. That light grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day." D&C 50:24.

If you choose to strengthen your Christlike virtues and live a pure life, the Lord's spirit can dwell within you. Then you can, in turn, radiate His spirit out into the world through your demeanor and deeds. Offer a kind word, a helping hand, a smile. Do it! Let your little light shine! Develop this radiance through pure positive righteous choices.

I keep a copy of this little bookmark (below) in all the books I'm reading as a reminder to emulate the positive qualities of Jesus Christ. Feel free to click on this link to make copies and laminate them for your own use.

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Go to the Source--What Do the Scriptures and Respected Teachers Say?

"Wherefore, all things which are good come of God; and that which is evil comes of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fights against Him continually, and invites and entices to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. But behold, that which is of God invites and entices to do good continually; wherefore, everything which invites and entices to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." (BOM Moroni 7:12-13)

"Light and truth forsake that evil one." (D&C 93:37)

"Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." (Bible. Luke 11:35-36)

"And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies [physical and spiritual] shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehends [understands] all things." (D&C 88:67)

"For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is spirit, even the spirit of Jesus Christ." (D&C 84:45)

"And the light which shines, which gives you light, is through Him who enlightens your eyes, which is the same light that quickens your understandings. Which light proceeds forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. The light which is in all things, which gives life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God." (D&C 88:11-13)

"Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you and that you are in me, otherwise ye could not abound." (D&C 88:50)

"...And that I am the true light that lights every man that comes into the world." (D&C 93:2)

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one." (D&C 93:36-37)

"Verily I say unto you all, arise and shine forth that thy light may be a standard for all nations." (D&C 115:5)

www.emulatejesuschrist.com

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